Active stretching of hip flexors increases hip extension range of motion more than passive stretching

Objective: To determine the effect of active stretching versus passive stretching in subjects with hip extensor muscle tightness. Design: Pretest- Posttest Experimental design. Subject: Total 30 subjects were taken for the study. Subjects were randomly divided into two groups. Group A: (n=15) Active stretching. Group B: (n=15) Passive stretching. Methodology: In Active stretching group (Winter et al., 2005) group A, stretching is first done with bending knee (5 reps) and then done with knee extension. In group A, stretches were done for 10 repetitions each in a single daily session for 5 days in a week; each stretch was held for 30 seconds with up to a 30 second rest period between repetitions. In the passive stretching group, i.e. group B, stretch was given for 10 repetitions each in a single daily session for 5 days in a week. Each stretch was held for 30 seconds, with an 8-seconds rest period between repetitions (Winter et al., 2005). The subjects were assessed two times during research period i.e. at 1st session which was at the start of study to collect the baseline data and at the end of the study to get the progressions, respectively. All the recordings and progressions were documented. Main outcome measure: Range of motion of hip extension. Result: The ROM improved significantly in both the groups as compared to pretest value but there was no significant difference between the two groups at the end of the intervention. Conclusion: This study proposes and provides the evidence that active and passive stretching of hip flexors; both are equally good and effective in increasing hip extension range of motion.